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MONday, MARCH 18, 2019

Injury forces India’s star gymnast Dipa Karmakar pull out of Doha World Cup page 19 test vs ireland Bottas eases to Australian GP victory in Mercedes one-two

DPA Melbourne

Valtteri Bottas enjoyed a comfortable victory at Formu- la One’s season-opening Aus- tralian Grand Prix ahead of world champion Lewis Hamil- ton in a Mercedes one-two in Melbourne on Sunday. Bottas overtook pole-sitter Hamilton at the start and was untroubled in front for the rest of the race for his fourth Grand Prix win and his first since Abu Dhabi in December 2017. The 29-year-old Finn- ish driver took the chequered flag, some 21seconds ahead of five-time champion Hamilton, with Red Bull’s Max Verstap- pen third and Ferrari’s Sebas- tian Vettel fourth. Bottas also collected an ex- tra point to go with 25 points for a win after clocking the fastest lap on the 5.303-kilo- metre circuit under a new rule introduced by F1 this season. resultS 1. (FIN/Mercedes) 308 km in 1hr 25min 27.325sec; 2. (GBR/ Mercedes) at 20.886 sec; 3. (NED/ Red Bull) at 22.520 sec; 4. (GER/ Ferrari) at 57.109 sec; 5. (MON/ Ferrari) at 58.230 sec; 6. (DEN/ Haas) at 1:27.156 sec; 7. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/ Renault) at 1 lap; 8. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Alfa Romeo) at 1 lap; 9. (CAN/Racing Point) at 1 lap; 10. (RUS/Toro Rosso) at 1 lap; 11. (FRA/Red Bull) at 1 lap; 12. (GBR/McLaren) at 1 lap; 13. Sergio Perez (MEX/Racing Point) at 1 lap; 14. Alexander Albon (THA/Toro Rosso) at 1 lap; 15. (ITA/Alfa Romeo) at 1 lap; 16. George Russell (GBR/ Williams) at 2 laps; 17. (POL/ Williams) at 3 laps. Fastest lap: (1pt): Bottas 1:25.580 Drivers championship standings: 1. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) 26 pts; 2. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 18; 3. Max Verstappen (NED) 15; 4. Sebastian Vettel (GER) 12; 5. Charles Leclerc (MON) 10; 6. Kevin Magnussen (DEN) 8; 7. Nico Hulkenberg (GER) 6; 8. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) 4; 9. Lance Stroll Mercedes’ Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas takes the chequered flag to win the in Melbourne on Sunday.( AFP) (CAN) 2; 10. Daniil Kvyat (RUS) 1. Constructors: 1. Mercedes 44; 2. Ferrari 22; 3. maining top 10 Red Bull 15; 4. Haas 8; 5. Renault 6; 6. Alfa Romeo Disappointed Hamilton says the race was by first turn 4; 7. Racing Point 2; 8. Toro Rosso 1. places filled by Melbourne: A disappointed Lewis Hamilton said on Sunday his Australian Grand Prix was “done and dusted” by the first corner as he Kevin Magnussen was left searching answers after failing to match the pace of Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas. The five-time world champion started in a Haas, Nico “I don’t know what just from pole at the season-opening race but was pipped at turn 1 by the Finn and was never in contention as he quickly pulled away to Huelkenberg in a happened. The start was really beat the Briton by almost 21 seconds. To rub salt in his wounds, Bottas also picked up an extra point for the fastest lap. Hamilton, Renault, Kimi Rai- good, definitely my best race who was quickest in all three practice sessions and during qualifying, was gracious in defeat, but also struggling to know what went kkonen in his first ever. I just felt so good and wrong. “I had a pretty straightforward race today; I lost position at the start and my race was pretty much done and dusted after race for Alfa Romeo, everything was under control the first corner,” he said. A“ fterwards it was really about bringing the car home and bagging the points. I had to pit early to Racing Point’s Lance and the car was very good, I cover the from Ferrari, so I had a long second stint and drove super carefully to make sure I had tyres left at the Stroll and Toro Ros- just need to enjoy today,” end of the race.” Autosport.com said Mercedes had discovered damage to the floor of Hamilton’s car following post-race so’s Daniil Kvyat. Bottas said in a first track- checks, possibly caused by hitting debris or running across a kerb. Team chief had no immediate answers. “For Robert Ku- side interview. Lewis, it was a harder afternoon -- the start was not as good as Valtteri, then we had to pit him earlier than ideal to cover bica had to pit early “The fastest lap is a new the risk of being undercut by (Sebastian) Vettel,” he said. (AFP) on with a problem for rule as I had strong pace, I Williams in his first F1 had to go for that. I’m just so race since 2010 and happy and can’t wait for the lose his front wing after going race for the leading drivers. stappen after the Red Bull finished last. next race.” wide of the track. After three victories in the driver got past Vettel on lap 31 A minute’s silence was In a disappointment for 2017 season for Mercedes, of the 58 laps to go third. held before the race for Charlie home fans at the Albert Park Bottas was able to enjoy the “It’s a good weekend for the Whiting, the F1 race director, circuit, the Australian eventu- winners’ champagne after go- team so I have to be happy for who died on Thursday. ally had to retire just after the ing the whole of last season everyone, and Valtteri drove Bottas, second on the halfway stage. without a win, finishing sec- an incredible race today, and grid, immediately got the Bottas was comfortable at ond seven times. deserved it,” Hamilton said. better of Hamilton in a start the front, gradually extend- Hamilton was unable to Vettel held on to fourth which saw , ing the gap over the rest of the challenge but appeared to be place, followed by team-mate in his first race for Renault, field in a largely uneventful in no danger from Max Ver- Charles Leclerc, with the re- Afghanistan chase historic Test win after ’s five-for

AFP Spinner Andy McBrine had has taken seven in the beaten on 32 after number 11 made 39, to frustrate the Dehradun opener match, told reporters. Murtagh, who hit 54 in Afghanistan bowlers in the caught behind for two before “It was tough to grip the Ireland’s first innings score of first session. Spinner Rashid Khan Janat and Shah, who made 98 new ball because I had a fin- 172, was the last man out on 27. An umpiring howler cost claimed five wickets to put in Afghanistan’s first innings ger injury and tough for me “I am not surprised, if Ireland their first of Afghanistan in sight of their total of 314, played out the last to pitch it on the right length you have seen the day with maiden Test victory after few overs of the day. as was paining a lot,” he said, even tailenders have re- adjudged lbw off paceman out Ireland for 288 on Ireland batsmen Andy Bal- referring to the injured middle cords,” said Khan. Yamin Ahmadzai for 14 after day three of the one-off game birnie and Kevin O’Brien had finger of his bowling arm. “Plan was to bowl as many the opener got a thick edge on Sunday. earlier hit half-centuries be- Balbirnie made 82 and good deliveries as possible. onto his pad. Chasing 147 to win, Af- fore Khan returned career-best O’Brien 56 before a 10th-wick- But they chose the right deliv- Scores: Afghanistan 314 and ghanistan were 29 for one at figures of 5-82 to bowl out Ire- et 58-run partnership between eries to score and that’s how 29 for 1 ( 16*, Rah- stumps. Ihsanullah Janat, on land in the final session of play. James Cameron-Dow and Tim they made runs.” mat 11*) trail Ireland 172 and 16, and , on 11, “Feeling happy to get some Murtagh set up a potentially Earlier Balbirnie put on 288 (Balbirnie 82, O’Brien 56, Ireland’s Kevin O’Brien (left) reacts as Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan appeals were at close of play wickets for the team when the tricky chase for the Afghans. 104 runs for the third wicket Rashid 5-82, Ahmadzai 3-52) successfully to dismiss in Dehradun on Sunday. (AFP) in Dehradun. team needed me,” Khan, who Cameron-Dow was left un- with James McCollum, who by 118 runs.